Intimations of Transcendence

""Hyland offers a holistic reflection on the ways in which various aspects of our lives serve as occasions for philosophical reflection. By way of both autobiography and philosophical rumination, and in such a manner as to blur the difference between the two, Hyland gives us rich and enlightening meditations on education and athletics (and their interrelation), family and friendship, the value of precarity and questioning, and the sheer exuberance of approaching the world openly and responsively."" --S. Montgomery Ewegen, Professor of Philosophy, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut ""Beautifully written and genuinely enlightening, Intimations of Transcendence enacts Drew Hyland's vision of a philosophical life. Key themes of Hyland's other writings, such as 'responsive openness' and 'finite transcendence, ' are woven into his thought-provoking narratives about teaching, sports, parenthood, and friendship, among other topics. Written over some twenty years, this wonderfully engaging book arises out of Hyland's life experiences and also offers explicit moments of self-questioning--including about the genre of philosophical autobiography itself."" --Charles L. Griswold, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Boston University ""In Drew Hyland's Intimations of Transcendence, we see a renowned philosopher demonstrating what it means to think through a life in a doubly rich sense. First, Hyland considers his life's most meaningful activities and relationships through the lens of two concepts he developed in his academic career. Second, and wholly integrated into the first, he shows what it means to live out a life in thoughtfulness."" Jill Gordon, NEH/Class of 1940 Distinguished Professor in the Humanities, Emerita, Colby College, Maine ""These essays celebrate what philosophy as a way of life--or better, living as a way of philosophizing--looks like at its best. Drew offers seasoned reflections on the path to becoming an accomplished teacher, athlete, and writer, as well as a beloved friend, spouse, and parent. This book speaks to the concrete themes of life that touch us all."" --Katherine Davies, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas at Dallas